Latest Developments
A school was among the targets struck during the dozens of missile and UAV attacks launched against Israel by Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon on July 20-21. The school, at Kibbutz Dafna in northern Israel, was damaged but was empty at the time of the attack on July 21. The rocket barrage also sparked fires in northern Israel, including a large blaze at the Banias nature reserve in the Golan Heights. A separate Hezbollah drone attack the previous day wounded two Israeli soldiers in the Golan Heights. “Several suspected drones entered Israeli airspace in the attack, and interceptor missiles were launched at them. The drones, however, were not intercepted and struck northern Israel, leading to the injury of the two soldiers,” The Times of Israel reported. The attacks set off sirens throughout northern Israel’s border with Lebanon.
Expert Analysis
“Hezbollah is increasing its attacks on Israel as Iran seeks to position its proxies in Iraq, Yemen, and elsewhere to escalate threats against Israel. Iran is seeking to stoke the flames of a larger regional conflict due to Israel’s increasing defeat of Hamas in Gaza. The Houthi and Hezbollah multi-front threats to Israel illustrate how Iran is seeking to encircle Israel with these terrorist proxies of Tehran.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow
“Despite sustaining losses in both infrastructure and personnel, Hezbollah has persisted in its campaign of striking northern Israel in support of Hamas and its allies in Gaza. However, Hezbollah’s approach may undergo a reassessment as Hamas faces mounting setbacks from Israeli military pressure.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal
Hezbollah Increases Attacks in Wake of Houthi Drone Attack
The Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah increased its attacks on Israel over the weekend following the deadly drone attack against Tel Aviv launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen on July 19. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded with an unprecedented air attack on the port of Hudaydah which is controlled by the Houthis — one of several Iranian proxies around the region. The IDF also struck Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, confirming an overnight attack “in the area between the towns of Adlon and al-Kharaib, north of Tyre, about 30 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanese border, aimed at a Hezbollah weapons depot,” Israel’s Ynet reported on July 21. Hamas members in Lebanon also joined Hezbollah in the attacks. The IDF eliminated a senior Hamas commander in Lebanon on July 18.
Source » fdd